In case you live under a rock, the Avengers are a Marvel Comics super hero team that includes Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, and Iron Man, among others. The Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend themed around the Marvel universe will include a Half Marathon, 5K, Kids Races, Health & Fitness Expo, Pasta Party, and, of course, super hero themed entertainment and characters.

“runDisney races are a natural fit because our comic book Super Heroes embody many of the same brand attributes as runDisney, such as heroism and intensity with a heavy dose of fun,” said Dan Buckley, president of TV, Publishing and Brand Management for Marvel Entertainment. “This race weekend will have a very distinct atmosphere that will appeal to comic book fans and runDisney fans.”

Disneyland currently hosts just two of runDisney’s seven running weekends—the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend from August 28-31, 2014 and the Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend set for May 7-10, 2015.

But the Disneyland events have proven especially popular for runDisney. The 2014 Tinker Bell Half Marathon, which took place on January 19, sold out its 15,000 race spots in less than two days.

And the 2014 Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend, scheduled for August 28-31, had the quickest sell-out in the history of the Mouse House’s running events.

All 35,500 of the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend‘s running bibs sold out within 12 hours and 13 minutes. The Dumbo Double Dare, where participants complete both the Disneyland 10K and Half Marathon on back-to-back days, filled up in just 41 minutes. The Disneyland 10K sold out in 53 minutes, followed by the runDisney Kids Races, which closed in 2 hours and 48 minutes. The Disneyland Half Marathon itself sold out in 9 hours and 20 minutes, while the Disneyland 5K closed in 12 hours and 13 minutes.

Now Disney fans will have one more opportunity to earn their Coast to Coast Race Challenge medal, which runners earn for completing both a half-marathon or marathon at Walt Disney World and Disneyland in the same calendar year. The Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend will be eligible for Coast to Coast. So if you got shut out of Disneyland registration, you’ve got another shot at that medal.

Captain America and Iron Man on the run. (Photo: runDisney)

Like the other Disneyland events, the Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend races will go through the Disneyland theme parks and the streets of Anaheim, Calif.

But race organizers also hope to appeal to comic fans who might not otherwise runDisney.

“By joining forces with the Avengers brand, we expect this race will appeal to an even broader range of runners in Southern California whom we hope will see this event as the perfect opportunity to unleash their inner Super Hero in a race to a personal triumph, ” said Tom Wolber, senior vice president of Disney Sports Enterprises and Downtown Disney.

With two women-focused events in the now eight-weekend race series, it makes sense that the next event is something that might appeal to more gents and non-Disney fans. And the bling? It will be fashioned after the Avengers, of course.

Registration for the event opens March 25, 2014.

Do you want to run the Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon?

This isn’t a sponsored post. I simply love Disney running. But I still like to disclose my relationships.Disney has in the past given me race entries, hotel, and park tickets for runDisney events. All opinions and posts are purely my own and are, frankly, honest. Seriously. That’s not just some legalese. I mean it. Read my Disclosure Policy.

Karla Bruning is a regular contributor to SHAPE.com, the host of NYRR's On The Run web + TV show, and a race announcer at events like the TCS New York City Marathon. She used to report for Newsweek but spent her free time squeezing in workouts. Now she freelances as a running reporter. She's run 7 marathons, 20 halves, 6 triathlons, sings in an '80s cover band, spoils her dog + travels compulsively.

My husband and I are HUUUGE Avenger’s fans! As tempting as this inaugural race is for us, we are sticking with Wine & Dine this year for our C2C medals since we did Tink in January. BUT we’ll be at the Avenger’s half next year, and already thinking about costumes!!

I don’t know what to do… I am not into this race, but I said I would run all of the runDisney races this year and write a book about it. Now I feel like I have to run it just because of my book. Feeling a little stressed…Debbie Shurson recently posted..Avengers Announcement

I would like to thank runDisney for doing something that makes it easy for me to say no to. Having said that I also am now seriously thinking of doing Wine & Dine despite having said I would not do it this year. Yes, I am a woman of many contradictions.Nicole @ Pink Elephant on Parade recently posted..I can run! I can run! (Kinda)

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Notes From A Nerd

I’m not the fastest runner and I’m not the slowest, but I am a running nerd. A journalist by trade, I love to research, read, learn and cogitate. So stick with me. Like all good nerds, I’ll do the homework and share it. But the running is up to you!